you're not a fat man, Dick. It's so very hard to calculate just how
much to cut down on starches and sweets without injury to the health.
What are you feeding up on?"

"You know very well that I'm not feeding up on anything, but if you
think you can come around here, and dope out one of your darned health
menus for me, and sit around watching me eat it, you are jolly well
mistaken. I wish you'd go home, Nancy. I don't like you to-day. I
don't like myself or anybody in this whole universe. I'm not fit for
human society--don't you see I'm not?"

"You're awful cross, dear."

"Don't call me dear. I'm not Sheila or one of your sick waitresses,
you know."

"Sheila's back."

"Is she?"

"Don't you care?"

"Oh, I suppose so."

"She loves you."

"She's unique."

"You told me once there were other girls, Dick."

"They're all over it by now."

"Dick, can't I do something for you?"

"Yes, leave me alone."

"I've never seen you like this before."

"No, thank God."

"I didn't know you were ever anything but sort of smug and superior."

"Grand description."

"You ought to be in bed, dear--I didn't mean to call you dear, it
slipped out, Dicky,--and taking nourishment every hour or so. What
does the doctor say?"

"Nothing, he's given me up as a bad job."

"Given you up?"

"Yes, there's nothing he can do for me."

"Why, Dick, my dear, what is it?"

"Oh! lungs or liver or something. I don't know."

"What are you taking, Dick?"

"I tell you I can't take anything," he said, misunderstanding her. "It
makes me sick to eat. Every time I try to eat anything I feel a lot
worse for it."

"When did you try last?"

"Oh, yesterday some time. Now what in the name of sense makes a woman
shed tears at a simple statement like that? I'm not in shape to stand
this. Once and for all, Nancy, will you get out and leave me? I tell
you I never wanted to see you less in my life. I'll write you a letter
and apologize if you'll only go, now."

"Oh, I'll go," Nancy said. "I couldn't really believe that you wanted
me to,--that's all."

She started for the door--but Dick, weakened by lack of food, tortured
beyond his endurance by the sudden assault on his nerves made by
Nancy's appearance, gave way to his relief at her going an instant too
soon. Like a small boy in pain he crooked his elbow and covered his
face with his arm.

Nancy ran to him and knelt at his side, taking his head on her
breast.

"Dear," she said, "you d